Twenty Essex has ‘a huge concentration of expertise and familiarity with commodities associations, as well as deep and long-standing expertise in an area in which you cannot dabble’. It is widely regarded as the leading set across the full spectrum of commodities cases, including areas of growing importance such as commodities fraud and cryptoasset trading. Leading junior Angharad Parry was also involved in a novel case, having obtained the first reported worldwide freezing order granted by an English court in relation to a Scottish limited partnership. Among its members are some of the leading names in shipping, commodities and international trade, notably Timothy Young QC and Michael Ashcroft QC, the latter having handled a major off-specification fuel oil dispute in Commercial Court. Michael Collett QC and outstanding junior Oliver Caplin recently were recently involved in MT “Tenacity” – Tenacity Marine Inc v NOC Swiss LLC, which concerned the alleged misdelivery of cargo without presentation of bills of lading following the insolvency of Gulf Petroleum.
Commodities in London Bar
Twenty Essex
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is my go-to set for commodities work. They have a great range of counsel at differing levels of seniority. The clerks are friendly, proactive and approachable. They are willing to be flexible on rates when appropriate.’
‘It has excellent strength in depth and always has someone available at the requested level of call and quality.’
‘Easy to work with and methodical.’
‘A very good set with some market-leading silks.’
‘Twenty Essex is my go-to commercial set in London. I think it has great strength in depth and provides top-quality service at prices which are acceptable. I have always felt that I am putting my clients in very good hands.’
Clerks
‘All have been patient, understanding and proactive.’
‘The clerking is reliable, with no need to chase for updates, quotes or communications with the court.’
‘Twenty Essex’s clerks provide great support. I never have to quibble over a brief. Discussions are frank and fair and for one-off advice work, the turnaround times and pricing are good.’
‘Anthony Carroll in particular is very responsive, commercial and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘A very good team – I think Chris Theobald is one of the best.’
7 King's Bench Walk
7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘one of the pre-eminent sets for shipping and commodities with very good strength in depth across the board’. Featuring many esteemed commodities silks and a large roster of talented juniors, it is best-known for its work in the areas of law where commodities, shipping and insurance intersect. It frequently handles matters concerning cargo damage, cargo theft, bill of lading fraud, and breach of obligations under contracts of international sale and purchase, often on behalf of the world’s leading commodities trading houses. Robert Bright QC recently handled a $3m claim concerning off-specification fuel oil in Septo v Tintrade. Siobán Healy QC’s caseload included matters relating to cocoa quality, London Metals Exchange rules relating to importation of metals into India, and the alleged deliberate dilution of premium fruit juices. Leading junior Richard Sarll led the defence in Gemcorp v Petrocas, which concerned a contract for sale and purchase of a consignment of fuel oil, to be loaded at a port in Russia.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very strong in shipping, trade and insurance. Top-tier and one of the go-to sets.’
‘One of the pre-eminent sets for shipping and commodities. Very good strength in depth across the board.’
‘They are very active in the industry. Very established and old school but they are adapting to the modern changes. One of the leading sets in this area.’
‘A set of outstanding individuals with great strength in depth and all very personable.’
‘7 KBW offers great strength in depth of commodities expertise with no fewer than 54 barristers including 26 QCs who specialise in this practice area. Commodities work necessarily overlaps with shipping (all the contracts involved in getting commodities from one part of the world to another, usually on a ship, sometimes on an aeroplane or via a pipeline) and insurance (all possible risks relating to the above and also the risk of non-payment or non-delivery of the goods in question). 7KBW offers unrivalled expertise also in these related areas and so is able to offer advice across the whole range/package of disputes.’
Clerks
‘Bernie Hyatt is fantastic, flexible and approachable.’
‘Always respond urgently to requests for assistance and are prepared to be commercial when required on fees.’
‘Gary Rose is always great to work with and finds you the right person for a specific task. The clerks are all very approachable and always try to find a solution.’
‘7KBW’s clerks are top-notch and they always respond to our emails quickly and helpfully. Joe Clayton is our go-to contact.’
‘The clerks are excellent. Eddie Johns especially – always prompt and willing to be flexible on fees.’
Quadrant Chambers
Quadrant Chambers is ‘an excellent set for commodities trading, trade finance and shipping matters’ and clients praise the ‘responsive, down to earth counsel and clerks who deliver a first-class service with a personal touch’. The set’s commodities practice handles litigation and arbitration concerning international sale contract disputes, and its members have extensive experience in acting for buyers, sellers and other interested parties in disputes in the courts of England and Wales and in international arbitration, including under the rules of arbitral institutions such as the LCIA or the ICC, and in connection with trade association arbitrations such as GAFTA, FOSFA and the RSA. The ‘sharp and effective’ Simon Rainey QC is a leading light in cases concerning international trade and commodities, including oil trading, metals and softs. Stewart Buckingham QC, who took silk in 2020 having been among the leading juniors in this area, and the ‘very user-friendly’ Benjamin Coffer also have stellar reputations in commodities cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘Our go to shipping chambers with strength across the board from the most junior to the most senior counsel. Responsive, down to earth counsel and clerks who deliver a first-class service with a personal touch.’
‘In our experience, Quadrant continues to be a leading commercial set with a great depth of expertise from junior counsel to the level of silk. Quadrant Chambers and its members generally are readily available when needed, and are adept at advising on urgent matters as required.’
‘The best shipping and commodities set bar none.’
‘Quadrant is undoubtedly a very strong set of chambers, with an array of top-quality barristers at all levels. Quadrant has pushed more than any set I think to promote its knowhow during the pandemic with Quadcasts (as they have termed them) and very regular seminars.’
‘Quadrant is one of my two go-to sets in the fields of commodities and shipping. They have size, depth and always seem to be promoting various aspects of their knowhow.’
Clerks
‘The clerks are very personable, responsive and reliable.’
‘Quadrant Chambers’ clerks are responsive, professional, polite and attentive and, above all, helpful.’
‘Daniel Westerman and Paul Bloxham are extremely helpful and always reliable to assist when called upon.’
‘Generally good. Daniel Westerman, John Walker and Billy Beckett very helpful and responsive. Gary Ventura runs an excellent team.’
‘The clerks in this set are brilliant. They are responsive and are always able to come up with solutions if any issues arise as to counsels’ availability. They also appear to have very good relations with the Court which is helpful. We have worked closely with Daniel Westerman in particular, who has gone above and beyond to ensure that clients’ needs are met and there is clear communication with the barristers.’
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is ‘very strong, particularly at the senior end, and it has incredible pedigree in commodities and shipping work with a host of names you would want to turn to for high-value, heavy and contentious disputes’. The set has a long track record of involvement in shipping, shipbuilding and commodities cases, with particular expertise in wet and dry shipping, as well as high-value fraud cases touching on those issues. Nigel Eaton QC is among the set’s standout silks and he recently includes high-value international commodities arbitrations and matters concerning ore and oil shipments. David Walsh is a prominent junior in this area of law, and he frequently assists for major trading houses with pricing disputes concerning energy commodities. He recently acted as sole counsel in a $15m claim against commodity insurers following a fire at a warehouse in Zambia.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very strong chambers, particularly at the senior end. Probably the strongest set for QCs specialising in commodities.’
‘A very strong set that understands client service for top-end commercial disputes and gets it right.’
‘Essex Court Chambers has excellent counsel and there are always a number of strong candidates to choose from.’
‘Essex Court Chambers has incredible pedigree in commodities and shipping work with a host of names you would want to turn to for high-value, heavy and contentious disputes.’
Clerking
‘Refreshingly clear and straightforward.’
‘The clerks are helpful and seem to provide a good service.’
‘The clerks are very good, efficient and professional.’
‘Generally good. Ollie Butcher is very responsive.’
‘The clerks are among the best in the business. Jack Wood always goes the extra mile.’
The 36 Group
‘The set is simply breathtaking’, says a client of The 36 Group. Another remarks that it has ‘reasonable depth and generally good availability of their barristers’. The set specialises in commodities, shipping and international trade, and its members are highly adept in contractual matters such as bills of lading, contracts of affreightment and commodities transactions in the context of shipping. Members advise on matters in the civil and criminal courts, arbitrations, inquiries and at other tribunals, both in the UK and overseas in matters concerning metals, petroleum products, grain and foodstuffs. Joint head of chambers Vasanti Selvaratnam QC, whose recent work includes matters concerning shipments of silicon carbide and bauxite, is known for the speed of her analysis and her practical approach to complex matters. Among the set’s standout juniors are Ravi Aswani, who has extensive knowledge of arbitration under the rules of numerous specialist trade bodies, and Charles Debattista, who is notable for his Maltese connections.